Improvement in fence-posts



R. 0'. RAMSEY.

' Fence-Post.

No. 215,294. Patented May 13, 1879-.

fig i I c JJVVEJVTOK 1 jy afiamw y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ROBERT C. RAMSEY, OF FINDLEY TOWNSHIP, MERGER COUNTY, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,294. dated May 13, 1879; application filed January 11, 1879.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. RAMSEY, of Findley township, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fence- Posts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved post, and Fig. 2 details;

My invention relates to a wooden fence or gate post combined with a stone base-block, and connected thereto by peculiar metal braces; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The great fault with wooden fence-posts as hereiofore constructed and applied has been that, being driven into the ground or mortised into castings, &c., the lower end has by the action of the weather and continual moisture rotted the part and rendered the said post useless.

The object of my invention is to so construct and arrange a fence'post with relation to the base-block that the wood will not be below the surface of the ground, and that the end of the post will simply rest with a fiat surface upon a corresponding surface on the base upon the grain of the wood. It is intended that the stone base-block be positioned with its upper face approximately on a plane with the surface of the ground, and that the post extend above. 7

In carrying out my invention I employ a base-block of natural stone, baked clay, manufactured stone, or the like, and furnish it with a central aperture, which receives a bolt, bar, screw, &c., which said device extends upward into a proper mortise in the lower end of the wooden post. Slots inclined from above downward and inward are formed or cast in the base-block near each end. A flat piece of metal is pierced at its center to receive the diametrical bolt or bar, and, extending outward from the center in each longitudinal direction, is forced into the inclined slots in a doubled condition, forming a lock or seal at that point. The free ends then extend upward and inward, and are secured to the post at a proper distance above to afford an efficient brace.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the base-block, of stone, manufactured stone, or the like, and it is provided with a central hole, (1, upon its upper surface, to receive a dowel-pin, B, which pin also operates in a hole, 0, in the wooden post 0. The base A is also provided with slots or holes a near each end, inclined downwardly and inwardly, as shown.

D represents a piece of fiat metal, pierced near its center, at (I, to receive the dowel B, and having a bent double portion, (1 which is forced into the inclined slots to, as shown. The free ends d are then carried upward and inward, and secured to the post 0 atm by bolt 0;, or other equivalent means.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination, with the post G, having recess 0 in its end base, A, with corresponding recess a and inclined recesses a, of the dowel B and flat brace-plate D in a single piece, havin g central perforation, d, doubled end wedges, d, and inclined supports secured to the post, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT C. RAMSEY.

Witnesses:

H. CLAY SMITH, CHAS. L. GOOMBS. 

